“Taking the role of competitor and viewing the market from that angle is both fun and worthwhile”, says Petri Tervonen, Head of Marketing at Fazer.

Reetta Räty, 08.03.2018

Fazer is among companies seeking new perspectives through wargaming.

“Compared to other simulations, Aalto War Game is extremely realistic”, says Pekka Mattila, Managing Director of Aalto EE, who has led dozens of Aalto EE War Game simulations for different organizations.

The exercise takes at least a couple of hours, with the longest iterations lasting for two days. The game is played in groups, and the briefing is based on a genuine situation faced by the company in the market.

A key feature of the War Game is to help a company uncover its vulnerabilities and pitfalls."

According to Mattila, a key feature of the War Game is to help a company uncover its vulnerabilities and pitfalls. When formulating a strategy, companies are often too preoccupied with themselves, and assume that the operating context is relatively stable. The War Game draws attention to competitors – enemies, in war terms – and the moves they are making.

“Often a company is so self-involved during strategy work that it fails to notice competitors scheming their next moves right under its nose. The War Game challenges the notion that a company would be the sole actor on the market”, says Mattila.

The War Game works well for both short-term and long-term planning. It can for instance help pinpoint a customer relationship or area of expertise that is leaning on just one employee.

“The exercise works particularly well for large, confident companies that are able to take an honest look at themselves, but perhaps need some reminding to pay attention to the moves of other players.”

Research-Based Game Development

Aalto University Assistant Professor Jukka Luoma has been involved in developing and facilitating the War Game simulations. His research focuses on competitive dynamics.

“The War Game makes use of research on company behavior in competitive situations.”

Luoma is interested in the psychology of competition. According to Luoma, seeing competitors only as threats and taking a ‘whatever it takes’ type of mentality to competition isn’t always ideal for a company.

“Observing wargaming has shown us that companies tend to focus on their key competitors, forgetting about the rest. They formulate a strategy with a few competitors in mind, overlooking what else is going on around them.”

Companies tend to focus on their key competitors, forgetting about the rest."

The simulation helps uncover misconceptions of this type.

On an individual participant level, the War Game helps to deal with potentially unproductive psychological defensive mechanisms. “People often display a ‘better than the average driver’ syndrome. We think we know better than others. This is a natural protective mechanism, which stops us from seeing our own weaknesses as intensely as we should. Wargaming is about actively taking on different views; it’s a cognitive trick that helps overcome this barrier.”

In practice, the War Game is about seeing activities through the eyes of others. It is an eye-opener, as blind spots are much easier to see in others than in oneself.

“Shows You’re Not the Only Player in the Field”

Luoma explains that the game is a safe way for a company to voice viewpoints that would not surface otherwise. “Gaming gives permission to raise issues critically. Problems are easier to address through a game. In a sense, it gives a good excuse to point out problems in business activities or the strategy. It makes internal discussion more diverse – instead of just patting on the back, it allows to talk about sore spots.”

Instead of aggression, it encourages fresh thinking."

The War Game isn’t actually warlike. Instead of aggression, it encourages fresh thinking. It was inspired by military organizations, but instead of prompting to attack, offers a place for critical reflection on whether attacking makes sense for the business and the stakes involved. “An attacking mindset can actually lead to bad decisions”, says Jukka Luoma. He mentions competition between automobile giants as an example. “Volkswagen decided to be the biggest automobile manufacturer and overtake Toyota. Could this explain why Volkswagen’s emissions scandal was possible? Did they play by the ‘whatever it takes’ method?

In fall 2015, Volkswagen was found to have fitted 11 million diesel vehicles with software that gave incorrect emissions levels, which in reality were 35-40 times higher than reported.

For the assistant professor, real-life situations of this type offer intriguing material for examining the psychology of competition. “The War Game doesn’t encourage positioning competitors as enemies, as we know from real life that it’s not necessarily good for the company. But it shows the company that there’s never just one player in the field.”

“The game creates a sounding board that kicks personal thought processes into motion and offers a new experience.”

Both Pekka Mattila and Jukka Luoma see the game being anchored in the company’s genuine situation as its strong point. Instead of trying to envisage the future in years to come, the game advances one step at a time. “The mind game can show something that would otherwise remain unseen, but may also prevent wrong moves”, says Luoma.

Aalto War Game Simulation Experiences

“It’s fun to step into the competitor’s shoes and look at the market from that angle.”

Petri Tervonen
Head of Marketing, Fazer

“We did the exercise as part of our strategy kick-off event. It went really well. There was a large group of us, about 70. People enthusiastically threw themselves into the game, which resulted in good ideas to consider for the future. It was partly spurring others on, partly team-building.”

“People find stepping in the rival’s shoes a fun idea. Exaggerations, a competitive streak and team work begin to surface. Every organization has its unspoken truths. In a game, you end up voicing issues you wouldn’t normally, which is a good thing of course.”

“Scenario exercises often take a lot of time and effort. The War Game can be arranged in many ways: it can be light and agile, or have a deeper approach over a longer period of time. Even light thought exercises are valuable. Wargaming needs to have a dynamic setting; the area of the game could change midcourse, just like in real life. The game acknowledges that something can happen that totally transforms the market. Instead of aiming for precise answers, the goal is to observe the environment and understand that something major that takes place can have huge repercussions on the company’s activities.”

“We expose ourselves to tools to shed light on our blind spots.”

Ilmari Vallo
CEO, DataCenter

“The War Game’s strength lies in its concrete nature. You can always examine different cases, tests or books, but they are never as concrete as a simulation that is centered on one’s own company and involves thinking about elements that support its wellbeing.”

“At DataCenter, we want to expose ourselves to new tools to shed light on our own blind spots. We want to trace areas we have missed, and how competition and the world is taking a different course to what we thought before. The War Game is one way to do this.”

“In the game, we viewed ourselves from a destruction point of view. We thought of how our rival could destroy us with our information. It’s always eye-opening to think about possible weak spots. We aim to find these dark areas on a personal level as well as in team dynamics, cooperation, and every other key area.”

“We also thought up how we would attack our competitor. What new products or services could we have – ideas like this spring up when planning an attack and analyzing the field of competition.”

“DataCenter has the most proactive board in the world! It’s great. We arrange two or three intensive sessions a year with the board, and the War Game was part of one of these. It gave us a good outline for the future, and measures that will take us in our desired direction arose at the same time.”

“The Social Welfare and Healtcare Reform is a great mystery and question mark in our sector.”

Anne Sivula
CEO, Seure

“We took part in the War Game simulation with the management team of Seure, as we were beginning to draw up our new strategy. The game fitted the situation well, and helped us consider future development paths in a diverse way. We carried out an extensive analysis of the current situation around the same time; where we are at now, how well processes work, the competition situation. The game had a vital impact on highlighting issues that require extra effort in strategy work.

Seure is a personnel service company owned by the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen, their corporations, and The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, HUS. We supply personnel to daycare centers, schools, hospitals, etc. Initially, the idea of a war game sounded strange considering our sector. But it turned out that the game fitted into our world very well: it helped us think about what needs to be done to win and what needs our input.

Right now, the Social Welfare and Healthcare Reform is a great mystery and question mark. In war game terms, one can say that sometimes it feels like Trump’s in the helm: will happen, won’t happen, will happen. In charting out our operating context, there are major uncertainties at play.”

“We thought about what competitors could do to kill us off.”

Petri Kiikka
Chairman of the Board, DataCenter

“I thought it was a fun exercise: not strategy work as usual, but a quick, compact package during the course of one morning.”

“The exercise gave plenty of food for thought for the six of us. We thought about what our competitors could do to kill us off. Genuine stuff. We provided some background on who our worst rivals are, and considered in concrete terms what we’d get busy doing if we were part of their team; what would be the guiding thought in competing against ourselves.”

“The War Game was more useful than I imagined. We, too, are in the middle of big changes and growth. I feel that any new angle is beneficial.”

Maria Aaltonen
Head of Human Resources, Fazer Confectionery Business Area

“It was a good experience! We took part in the War Game headed by Pekka Mattila as part of the management team’s strategy event.”

“Also the task was good fun. The gaming element created a relaxed vibe, and it was easy to say whatever crossed one’s mind. The time pressure had the same effect: no one watched their words, as situations and scenarios needed to be dealt with quickly. Suggestions and thoughts surfaced that would have remained unheard in another situation.”

I’m a little allergic to silly games that corporate strategy events often include. This wasn’t one of those."

“The War Game opened up new thoughts in a completely different way than the traditional “let’s discuss our strategic focus areas”. Surprising and daring viewpoints came about. The discussion gained a new dynamic against a backdrop of having to come up with fast decisions.”

“We had a really good time. The whole group had a “we can do it” attitude, we can get even through rough spots. The game seemed to liberate from inhibitions with even the wildest ideas brought forward.”

“I’m a little allergic to silly games that corporate strategy events often include. This wasn’t one of those. It deals with real-life situations. Wargaming sounds a bit threatening, and it’s true that the conversation revolved around threats: what’s going on in the outside world. Concentrating on one’s own activities is human, and that’s why it’s good to focus outside oneself in a game like this. It’s beneficial for one’s thinking, and brings a new perspective.”

“We had such a good experience that we decided to make use of the War Game also on other occasions, with a bigger bunch of people.”

Aalto War Game in short

A novel business simulation done in groups to test strategies, forecast competitors’ actions, and improve understanding of competitive dynamics. The War Game helps managers to uncover some of the underlying hypotheses in their own strategies, ask better questions about dynamics of competition, and expand their view of the range of business opportunities.

Military organizations use War Games to test strategies, forecast enemy actions, and gain an improved understanding of the range of possible outcomes in a situation.

A Business War Game or business wargaming is a type of simulation that can be used as part of corporate strategy work to understand competitive dynamics.

A role playing wargaming exercise is relatively easier to run and can help participants to uncover some of the underlying hypotheses in their own strategies, ask better questions about dynamics of competition, expand their view of the range of business opportunities, and reflect on the sustainability of their firm’s perceived competitive advantages. A typical approach is to ask small groups to take the role of one of the firm’s current or potential competitors, and to have them device a strategy for out-competing their own firm.

If you are interersted in arranging a War Game in your organization or have some other needs that our signature methods and customized solutions could help, please contact Mari Rauhala, tel. +358 10 837 3753, mari.rauhala@aaltoee.fi.

Get Your Monthly Insights to Email

Aalto Leaders’ Insight shares fresh stories, articles and views on different aspects of leadership, business and self-development. See a sample of Highlights of Aalto Leaders' Insight newsletter that is sent maximum twice per month to the subscribers. Easy to unsubscribe. See a sample.

This is my email *

Your email is used for marketing purposes to keep you up to date with the latest business insights and information on programs that will help you enhance your career. By subscribing, you accept this. See our
Privacy Policy.

We use cookies on this site to improve user experience. By continuing to use our services, you accept our Privacy Policy.

Send Us Message

First and Last Name *

E-mail *

Phone number

+-

Yes,keep me updated about the program

My message *

Privacy Policy

About this Website and Privacy Policy

Main Points

Purpose for the processing of personal data

The purposes for the processing of personal data include: the management of customer relationships; the realization of the rights and obligations of the customer and the controller; the processing of personal data in accordance with the Personal Data Act with regards to online services; research activities; and, steering the advertising and/or direct marketing of the controller and/or its partners on the basis of personal data via the controller’s media channels and services without disclosing any personal data to an external party.

Content of the register for marketing

The register may contain the following information:

Name

E-mail address

Mobile phone number and/or other telephone number

Name of the organization and position in the organization

Address of the organization

Access log

Marketing automation and profiling

Aalto EE websites run a marketing automation system that is used to

improving general user experience of Aalto EE’s web services, e.g. highlighting services that are of highest importance to the visitor;

Aalto EE sets a cookie to learn how visitors consume content in all its digital services. Visitor’s person stays anonymous to Aalto EE until

1. Visitor fills in contact information on some webform

The user's personal information may be linked to the cookie when she reveals her person by filling in a webform, e.g. application/registration, request for information or newsletter subscription. The information given is stored in Aalto EE’s marketing or customer register.

2. Visitor arrives at the website from an email marketing message sent by Aalto EE

The user's personal information may be linked to the cookie when the user arrives at the website via an email marketing message sent by Aalto EE. The sources for e-mail marketing messages are Aalto EE’s marketing or customer register. A user whose cookie is linked to personal data can receive email marketing that is personalized based on her website visitor history.

Your email is used for marketing purposes to keep you up to date with the latest business insights and information on programs that will help you enhance your career. By subscribing, you accept this. See our Privacy Policy.